The Washington Township Environmental Commission is very concerned about the unchecked spread of non-native invasive plant species that have come to dominate our local landscape.

Note: Much of the following has been adapted from a National Park Service pamphlet, Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, 4th ed. by Jill Swearingen with permission of the author. You are encouraged to purchase this excellent reference for guidance.

The expanding human population is the leading cause of biological diversity loss and environmental degradation. In the early days of settlers and explorers non-native species were introduced either purposefully or accidently to new frontiers that were being developed. In today’s world with an ever increasing human population growth local natural resources are becoming limited. In response to this humans have become reliant on international trade for agricultural goods, commodities and various other products resulting in an alarming increased introduction of plants, insects and pathogens that are harmful to our environment and to human health.

Reestablishment of native plants can help mend degraded environments by reviving natural habitats which in turn can restore the natural local ecological conditions and increase the natural biodiversity.

Please consider joining the Environmental Commissions Task Force to assist in identifying and eliminating non-native invasive plants from our land. Share your contact information here and the Environmental Commission will be in touch.